The Society

TheNorth of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS), a charity registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC106071, is governed according to its Governing Document made up of a Society Constitution and a Branch Constitution which together define its organisation, its financial and reporting obligations and its Objects:

To promote and encourage the public and personal study of world-wide family history, genealogy, heraldry and local history with particular reference to the North of Ireland.

A quiet moment at the Society’s stand at Olympia for “Who Do You Think You Are? Live”

Membership confers a number of Benefits and new members are always welcome; half the members have joined one of the many Branches as Branch Members and the other half, scattered around the world, have joined as Associate Members. The Society may confer Honorary Membership upon Members who have made an outstanding contribution to the Objects of the Society.

The Society is run by a Council with elected Officers and on which each Branch is represented by its Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. Each Branch is governed by the Branch Constitution, which defines its legal responsibilities, and the Branch Notes contain the main provisions that affect Branches and also include helpful material on setting up a new Branch and on running a Branch.

Council administers the Research Centre and its Resources and Shop. Council and the Branches organise and participate in Open Days, Family History Fairs and other public events.

In addition to serving its Members, the Society serves the wider public by welcoming people to its meetings and its Research Centre, by putting on courses for the public and by providing speakers or information stalls for events arranged by other organisations – see the Public Benefit page for details.